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Wednesday, May 4, 2011

a Work-in-Progress

Today has been one of those days, friends. Somehow I spent my morning facilitating a duck bath (suddenly, we have ducks!), planting tomatoes (errrg, gardening) and cooking lasagna with my girl. All good things, yes, and I was none the worse for it until my sewing session during rest time turned out to be such a disappointment.

The embroidery is done just in time to become a gift for my mother-in-law this Mother's Day. And just to be clear, my mother-in-law is an angel, so it's the least I can do! After a bit of back and forth, she asked for a serger cover. I bought some Central Park with her in mind months ago. She likes everything soft, gentle, delicate, pretty. I think she'll love this embroidery, but the rest of the project...

I'll show you the outside of the cover another time. Today during my kids' "rest time" I worked on creating the lining for the serger cover. I knew it would be this simple celery green solid quilted with batting to give the cover body. And, you know, you hardly ever see the inside of a sewing machine cover so wouldn't this be a good time to practice my free motion quilting?

Right.

I've always loved the look of pebble quilting. If you're not familiar with it, please ignore my shoddy work. You can see some real pebble quilting here.

I fought with constant puckering from the bobbin thread, despite my many (MANY) attempts at adjusting tension. This caused raised, bumpy pebbles. Not good! And then there were the times that the bobbin thread just snapped. Again and again. I stopped to take a picture when this happened:

Really, the safety pin too!?!?

I finished working the pebble quilting across this short side of the fabric and then did some wave quilting along the length of the liner to finish it off. And after that particular experience, I wonder when I'll ever attempt free motion again. Definitely felt like chucking the whole thing. Or, crying.

Don't worry, I will try it again. I'm looking forward to taking a freemotion quilting class at The Sewing Summit, and I also think that my sewing machine may have it's limits. Ok, and obviously I need lots more practice!

I've decided I'll just have to cut off the pebble portion and replace it with a new wave-quilted section. Good thing it's only a lining.

47 comments:

I totally feel your pain. I love my (cheap) sewing machine, but this weekend I nearly threw it out the window...all because of my own attempt at free motion quilting! I hope you're able to pick up some good tips at the Summit :)

I bet it just needed more basting pins! also, it helps to go a little slower when you're doing tight curves like pebbles otherwise it's hard for your bobbin thread to keep pace with the top. I found that my free motion quilting significantly improved when I started using this slider: http://www.daystyledesigns.com/supremeslider.htm

I think I should buy one of those sliders and I LOVE that article on testing leaving your feed dogs up. I do think I was going slow enough (I tried a bunch of different speeds), but you never know. That's why it would be so nice to learn from a real live person!

I find that Its easier before you start to practice on a 10x10 square.

I take the pins out when I get about 2 inches next to them. FMQ is practice practice practice. I prefer it on quilts instead of projects, because the quilt will go in the wash and scrunch. It hides most of the mistakes.

You know, when I first did FMQ, I knew to lower my feed dogs (although I frequently do outlining and almost always do thread "drawing" with them up), but it never occurred to me to adjust my presser foot pressure. You think that might help? Some machines will allow you to lessen the pressure of the foot, and it makes a HUGE difference--that, or using an embroidery foot, which was the real eye-opener for me. Something about it being further from the fabric (but not too far), and being plastic/slidy made a world of difference.

I've done larger circles but not ittybitty pebbles--maybe I'll play today! I could use a break from paperwork. Ugh.

Your embroidery is beautiful!! I've yet to attempt pebbles (or really any other FMQ other than writing my logo) on my machine...now I'm tempted to try. My guess is that your machine had something to do with it. Mine is making weird noises lately...I think it may die soon :(

I feel your pain! My FMQ experiences never turn out how I would like them to. It's so frustrating. I'm sure it's just practice and learning what to do with your individual machine but it's still dissappointing when it doesn't work out the way you would like. I still can't stipple but I know I'll get there with practice. The embroidery is beautiful and your MIL will love it.

Did you loosen your top tension a bit? And a lighter weight bobbin thread can help alot, too! I know I HATED doing 'pebbles' when I first tried them. I felt it helped alot to slow down the machine, too... and of course, just like you said... keep trying, practicing, and more practicing!!!

Take a class, it will make all the difference! I struggled for years thinking I would never master fm quilting, then I took a class and it all became clear. The things I learnt in the class were all about your machine, tension, thread etc. Problems and how to resolve them. I think any machine can do it, as long as you know how to set it up and how to resolve any problems!

I feel your pain. I have been totally unsuccessful at FMQ and REALLY want to learn. All these quilts in my head use FMQ and they are waiting to get out. I think I need a class too... sooner than at the SS!

As a teacher of free motion quilting - I really think you're going to appreciate a class. There are so many simple adjustments you can make on both your machine and your technique that will make it look so much better. That can only be learned with someone watching over your shoulder. Practice and persistence - you'll get better and better!

Ok, you all make me feel SO MUCH BETTER! I'm so glad I can laugh at this now. Jennifer - let's leave the saftey pin in! Holly - my machine was making weird noises only when I made counter-clockwise circles. How crazy is that?

I, too, am all about the basting spray. My old machine made me want to scream and kick it when I tried free motion quilting with it. My new to me machine has made all the difference. Try a simpler pattern. Floopy flowers are fun! Check out the tutorial at Oh Fransson. I awas amazed at my floopy flower success!

I have been FMQ for years, and I think pebbles can be really difficult, especially if you're learning. The teensy size, the fact you have to sew over other stitching - not a real easy pattern. I agree with Cindy's comment - taking a FMQ class will help a lot.

I feel your pain on the machine quilting part. I just finished my first attempt at it and it was definitely not perfect. I know I just need more practice. Here is a website that I have found helpful with thread tension issues. I have attended two of their seminars at sewing shows and they have really helped me a lot! http://www.superiorthreads.com/education/?gclid=CKTG3Z-M0KgCFRNrgwodAGiPhw Good luck on your next attempt :)

Rachel,I feel your pain. I love the look of FMQ'ing, but hate to actually do it. I get all tense and after I'm done, I feel like I need a massage.There is nothing worse than doing a big section and then turning over your quilt to find that the bobbin tension was off and the thread looks horrible. Seam ripper, please!I need to go find out what this slider is all about. I've never heard of it.

Hey, like you said, you tried! That's brave! I finally got off my duff and tried FMQ again last night, for the first time since I was a very new quilter. Let's not talk about the results, but even attempting it was a triumph for me! : ) (And FWIW, it was a lot better than the last time I tried it.)

I can't tell you how many hours I spent with a seam ripper the first time I tried FMQ. It looked beautiful on the front- but the back was a whole other story! So bad that I ended up purchasing a new machine after that, but still haven't tried again.

Keep trying though- I'm sure you'll pick it up (and I'm sure the FMQ class at summit will help too!)

hey! I am not expert at FMQ -not at all - but I did admire that your stitches are so even. Maybe the same thread top and borttom will help you - but really I think you will gain so much from a real live class. Good Luck

I don't know if the photo is a close up- but if it is not I would say your stitches is a bit to big. Pebbles are better formed with small stitches and also circling around two or three times before moving to the next pebble. One can "teach" yourself- but look closely how other successful pebbles are done and you will be satisfied with your work.

I have had similarly rotten luck with pebbling, I have a half done quilt from valentines 2009, http://perrymoffitt.com/2010/09/22/stage-fright-or-why-i-eloped/ that I have abandoned in frustration. Breaking thread, knots, to much/little tension, I wonder if it is my 15 year old machine to blame... But, I am going to order that slider thingy right this minute! I am still curious to see if you got any more tips at the summit.

very similar to my first go at pebble free hand quilting. I also tried wandering (or whatever its called) and I find I like the loopty loops best, but still puckering a bit. Going for the walking foot on my next quilt. We'll see:D